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A lightweight sunscreen with strong UV protection sounds perfect for summer, right? But does the Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen live up to the hype? It’s a hybrid formula, so there is some white cast—but how noticeable is it?
I admit I expected a dewy finish. Instead, this one surprised me with a matte result—what else turned out differently than I had anticipated? Let’s take a closer look at how it really performs!
What the Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ claims
The newest edition of the bestselling Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk is a mineral and chemical hybrid sunscreen offering SPF 50+ PA++++ sun protection. The formula in a milky lotion texture adheres closely to skin and promotes a natural-looking radiant skin tone without a white cast. It’s infused with moisturizing ingredients, like tormentil root extract and water-soluble collagen, for baby-soft skin. Waterproof and sweat-resistant formula is enriched with various powders to leave a soft matte finish. It can be used as a makeup primer.
Facts about the Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+
Price and size
Unlike other sunscreens the beautiful golden bottle contains 60 ml of product, so a little more than average, and is available for 25,99 € on the website here. It is made in Japan and contains fragrance.
Texture and smell
Milk is the perfect description for the formula, as it is quite runny when poured out of the bottle. The scent, described as fruity and floral on the website, smells pretty citrussy for me and is definitely noticeable when you apply it, but disappears shortly after.
How to use the Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+
Sunscreen is supposed to go on as last step in your morning routine and before makeup, so after giving the bottle a good shake you pour the milk into the palm of your hand – make sure to use a generous amount – and start applying it all over. It applies very smoothly and makes the skin feels soft and even to the touch.
I was able to take it close up to my eyes without stinging, but that might be different for you.
While applying it I definitely noticed a ligntening effect on my already pale skin, something in Asian sunscreens often referred to as “tone up effect” when the face is overall brightened without the white cast being so noticeable it looks odd.
I personally am not a fan, I feel like it makes me look a little tired and ill, but I know some people actively look for that effect in their products. Still, if you have a deeper skin tone than me, you might find it a deal breaker. In fact, if you are deeper than me and have tried it, I would love for you to share your experience.
Another thing I had issues with is pilling. Usually that happens when I layer a few silicone based products, but in this sunscreen it happened even with my regular routine, so to avoid it I had to be very careful not to rub it in, but to pat it in with my hands. That way both the pilling could be avoided and the “tone up” effect was slightly reduced.
Ingredients of the Shiseido Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+
sunsc 0 1, Ethanol 
amic|solv|vc, Diisopropyl Sebacate emo|solv, Isododecane emo|solv, Octocrylene sunsc, Ethylhexyl Salicylate sunsc 0 0, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate emo|amic, PEG/PPG-9/2 Dimethyl Ether, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch vc|abrasive/scrub, Talc abrasive/scrub 0 1, Silica vc, Isopropyl Myristate emo|perf 3 3–5, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate sunsc, Titanium Dioxide sunsc|col, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone emu, Dextrin Palmitate emu|surf, Glycerine 
sii|h 0 0, Homosalate sunsc, Ethylhexyl Triazone sunsc, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine sunsc, Disteardimonium Hectorite vc, PEG-10 Dimethicone emu, Isostearic Acid surf|emu, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate emu, Sodium Chloride vc, Aluminum Hydroxide emo|h|vc, Stearic Acid emo|vc 0 2–3, Trisodium EDTA chel, PEG-6 h|solv, Fragrance perf, Tocopherol aox 0–3 0–3, BHT aox|pres, Butylene Glycol h|solv 0 1, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3 surf|emu|surf|vc, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Sodium Metabisulfite aox|pres, Trimethylsiloxysilicate emo, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate so|h, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract aox|so, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract sb|aox, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate h, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite vc, Lauryl Betaine surf|surf, Soluble Collagen h, Phenoxyethanol pres, Sodium Benzoate pres, Citronellol perf, Geraniol perf, Hexyl Cinnamal perf, Limonene perf|solv, Linalool perfHover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Let’s look at the sunscreen filters first. As I mentioned before, it is a hybrid sunscreen, meaning it pairs organic (or chemical) filters with anorganic (or physical) ones. (More info: Chemical, physical, mineral – What is the difference?)
The anorganic filters used are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, offering a good explanation for the “tone up” effect. The organic filters used are a mixture of older ones as well as some of the more modern ones available. You will find Octocrylene, Octisalate, Uvinul A Plus, Homosalate, Uvinul T 150, Parsol SLX and Tinosorb S, in combination offering a broad protection against both UVA and UVB rays. (More info: What is UVA protection and why is it important?)
While I personally prefer formulas without Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide, this mixture really covers all bases and offers good protection.
The sunscreen comes in a silicone base, explaining both the soft feeling it gives the skin as well as the tendency to pill. There is both Corn Starch and Talc for mattifying as well as a few plant extracts as antioxidants, for soothing and for brightening although I don’t think they will have the same effect a dedicated serum would have.
There are also some humectants for hydration. In addition, the formula includes Fragrance and fragrant ingredients such as Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, and Linalool—important to note if you have known sensitivities or allergies. (More info: Is fragrance in your skincare dangerous?)
More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products
Does it live up to its claims?
Most of them.
It is a hybrid sunscreen with a very natural matte finish. I think it has a slight white cast that might be an issue for deeper skin tones and don’t think it is perfect as makeup primer as, at least for me, it had a tendency to pill.
How does it compare to…
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Tone-Up Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++
I have tried the majority of the SKIN1004 sunscreens available, and while this one isn’t my least favorite, it is definitely on the bottom part of the ranking. Here the „tone up“ is already in the name, giving me a white cast that is even more noticeable than in the Shiseido one, but it also comes with a tint that doesn’t agree with my skin tone at alland has a tendency to dry down patchy and emphasize my pores.
The texture though is lovely, so if you are actively looking for the „tone up“ effect and the tint works for you, you might have better luck with it than me.
You can read my full review of the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Tone Up Sunscreen SPF 50 PA ++++ here soon.
Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+ to?
While I was impressed by the initial smooth application and especially the finish of the Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk SPF 50+, I found it way too drying on my combination skin in winter. It also had a tendency to pill on me when layered, something that could be avoided by patting it in rather than rubbing.
As it offers a good selection of filters and claims to be sweat and water resistant, it might be a great option for the warmer months.
You have to be aware of its “tone up” effect though that made my already pale skin look even lighter and might be problematic for those with a deeper skin tone. I know that this is what many people look for in their sunscreen, it is quite common in products targeting the Asian market, but isn’t something I personally am a fan of.
In general I think this is better suited for people with oily skins or living in a humid climate than for mature people during the colder months.
Shop Shiseido skincare here
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